Vehicle front wheel banking apparatus



' April26, 1938. M. ECKENRODE VEHICLE FRONT WHEEL BANKING APPARATUS Filed April 5, 1956 M404 [FAY/72 I I Gttorneg Patented Apr. 26, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VEHICLE FRONT WHEEL BANKING APPARATUS Calif.

Application April 3, 1936, Serial No. 72,609

7 Claims.

My invention relates to an apparatus for banking the front wheels of a vehicle when turnin a corner with the vehicle to affect the direction of the stresses and prevent the collapse of the front wheel, particularly when making short, rapid turns, and the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a front wheel axle and wheel support for vehicles which automatically banks the wheel with the turning of the vehicle;

Second, to provide a front vehicle banking apparatus in which the support between the wheel steering knuckle and axle is shifted from a substantially vertical to an inclined position upon the operation of the steering knuckle arm in connection with the steering knuckle so as to bank the wheel when turning;

Third, to provide an axle and wheel steering knuckle connection for the front wheels of vehicles in which the wheel is banked in direct proportion to the amount of the turn of the wheel in going around a corner;

Fourth, to provide an apparatus of this class in I which the front wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle are angled in the right proportions and in the right direction for affecting the direction of the stresses and preventing the collapse of the wheels when making short rapid turns;

Fifth, to provide an apparatus of this class in which the front axle and wheel steering knuckle may be substantially conventional with but slight changes in their construction and cooperative relation;

Sixth, to provide an apparatus of this class which is very simple and economical of construction, durable, eflicient in its action, and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in View as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the characters of reference thereonwhich form apart of this application in which:

" plan view showing the steering knuckle in posi- (Cl. 280-S6.1)

tion with the wheel in banked position; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic View showing the wheels in an assumed proper banked position, the angle B being the assumed proper angle; and Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the'forces operative 5 on a vehicle for indicating the proper banking angle, the line of force indicatingthe arrow at the top by centrifugal force while at right angles thereto is weight and gravity force while the line It is the assumed proper angle for the banking l0 provided at the upper bifurcated portion la with a hollow spherical socket portion lb and at its lower branch lo it is provided with a partial spherical socket portion .ld which is substantially 25 semi-spherical and secured thereto is a conforming cap member ie secured thereto by means of bolts If as shown best in' Figs. 2 and'4 of the drawing. Mounted in the socket portion lb is a ball member 2 which is provided with a bureau 2a extending inwardly from one side in which is mounted the normally upper end 4a of the king pin 4, it being noted that the ball member is provided with a flat side 2b, against which rests a thrust bearing 3, which is preferably a ball bearing. This king pin i extends downwardly and is integrally secured eccentrically with an. eccentric member 5 which is cylindrical in form and provided with a" flange 5 at its upper side. This eccentric member 5, together with the flange 40 5a, is'positioned in the spherical portion id and the spherical portion formed by the conforming cap Ie and supported therein by means of a partially spherical bearing member 6 which fits the periphery of the eccentric member 5 at its inner side and fits the partially spherical portion Id and conforming portion formed by the cap le so that the eccentric member 5 may revolve together with the king pin 4 in this partially spherical portion on a substantially vertical axis and may shift in the portion id for changing the substantially vertical angle of the king pin 4 with the revolution of the eccentric member 5 on its substantially vertical axis.

Secured on the king pin 4 and prevented from torque movement by key 4b isthe hub portion ing knuckle is also clamped atitsupper side by means of a bolt lg'to provide a tightfit on the king pin 4; the steering knuckle beings'lit at lb to v tended lug portion id in which is secured the one permit the'clamping of said member rigidly on .theking'pin 4. I

Thesteering knuckle lisprovided with an ex- .end of-the' steeringknuckle arm 8, which pro- .vides means for shifting and turning the eccen' tric' member 5 in the lower side of the axle, therer fore, shifting the king pin to various'vertical in clinations for banking the'ewh'eel on the steering knuckle l, it being noted that the eccentric 5 is other; a steeringknuckle with a substantially.

V raised and lowered 'slightlyrin the bearing 6 as shown :by the r/ arying positions in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawing with-theturning of the steering knuckle together with the eccentric 5.

The operationof my vehicle front wheel.,-bank+ I ;ingf-'apparatus is as fcllowsgUpon the usual or @conventional movement of the steering knuckle "arm 8, the steering knuckle I willbe shiited with its-outer endiorwardly at one side of thejve- ,hicle .and its. -outer end backwardly'attheioppo- 1; site side of the vehicle which turns the'king pin 4 and: eccentric 5 in-the bearing and inasmuch V {opposite sides of the vehicle, thus banking the i-{lar construction, combinationand arrangementt V .7 of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited 40 V v arrangement, but desire toin'clude in the scope 1 of .my. invention the construction, combination,' -nd arrangement substantially as set forth in the 1 I appended claims.

;Haingthus described my claimas new ancl'desire to secure by Letters Pat-' ent is: a V

11' 'In a vehicle front wheel banking apparatus," a front wheel main bifurcatediaxle provided-with -;a;ball socket inthejupp er member, a partially spherical socket inthe lower'mem-b'er, a bearing i ina said upper socket, and a spherical bearing. in

wheels as shown by diagrammatic view in Fig.5 j of the drawing and afiecting thedirection oi the stresses as shown in Fig.5 ofthe drawing;

{I'houghi have shownand described a particuto this particular construction, combination, and

invention; ewhat I the lower socket, and a steering knuckle with the I vertical axisof theiking pin eccentrically .posi-' :tioned in the bearingin the lower memben a 2. In a vehicle front wheel banking apparatus,

'a front wheel main bifurcated axleprovided with aball socket in I the upper member. la-partially spherical fsocket inthe lower memberfa bearing yin] saidupper socket; a spherical bearingin the lowerjsocketa steering knuckle with the vertical a of, the kingpin eccentricallypositioned in asthis king pin 4 is eccentrically connected with the eccentric finwillcauee the steering knuckle l to assume varying angles from the horizontal at horizontal axisa I I r 6. Ina vehicle frontfwheel banking apparatus, .7

steering knuckle.

ing in said upper socket a spherical bearing in i fthelo wer' socket, a steering knuckle with the vertical axis of the king pin eccentricalr y Dositioned in the bearing in the lower member, "and .10 1 means for shifting saidsteering knuckle around its axis whereby the normally vertical axis of'said V steering knuckle isshifted to various inclinations because off th'e eccentricmounting of its axis. 7 a

4. In aivehicle front wheel bankingrapparatus, '15

"a vehicle front wheel axle with a bifurcatedrend 1 with one bifurcated member positioned above the vertical and'horizontal axis, its Vertical axis pivotallymounted'in the upperbifurcated member 20 of said axle and itslowerend eccentricallyT-and shiftably, mounted in the lower bifurcated mem j ber of said axle, and a bearing member in corinecl .tion with said eccentrichmountingto allow hori zontal shifting of the steeringknuckle relative 5to2 5 V the lower-member of'said axle.

5.,In a vehicle front wheel banking apparatus a vehicle front'wheel axle with a bifurcated end withone bifurcated member positioned above the other, a steering knuckle with la substantiallyrfio vertical and horizontal axis,its vertical axis piirotally mounted in the; upper bifurcated "member of saidr axle and its.lower end eccentric'allyaand shiftably mountedin the lower bifurcated member of saidvaxle, a bearing member in connection withsaid eccentric mounting touallowhorizontal shifting of the-steering knuckle relative to; the lower'meniberof said axle, and a steering knuckle r arm in connection with said steering knuckle for 1 f turning said'steering knuckle 'o-nits verticalaxis 40 a thereby shifting the" angle of its substantially the combination with a front. wheel axle, of la; f

steering knuckle provided with'a universal bearingiin which thefupper portion of its king pin 'is- 'i a centrally and-pivot'ally mounted and anrec cen- V l tricandg'readilyfshiftable bearing for'said rking pin at its lower end.

.7. In a vehicleirontwheel banking ap paratus, 5o

the combination with .a front wheelaxle, .oI-a';

' s'teering knuckle providedwith a universal bear ing in which'theupper portion of its king pin is V centrally and pivotally mQuntedandan. eccen-J I trio v and readily 'shi'ft'able bearingior said -king;

pin at its lower. end, andrneans forshifting said' whereby. the lower end of its. normally vertica axis .iSfshifted in inclination from thexvertica steering" knuckle on.itsf normally vertical' laxis therefore shifting the horizontal axis or ad so amas 

